Cheafal Anne

Have you ever been rebuked by a child? I have. Sometimes by my own, with things like a soft little hand caressing my cheek while I'm deep in thought or reading, or a quivering lip bravely bitten when I've reacted harshly. Here's a rebuke that recently came to me from my good friend Laura's 9 year old daughter.

"Anne! Anne! Cheaful Anne! An Anne hwo is cheaful!
Anne has a lot of cheaful days for she is cheafal.
Cheafal days and Trusty day and day about loving.
Anne! Anne! Cheafal Anne! So so so so so so cheaful!

~Bobbi"

Now, she certainly didn't mean this as a rebuke. She was ecstatic that we had finally come to visit after a year of not being together, and had prepared this note in anticipation. A YEAR. Once a year! That's who can write such a note about me: a little girl who sees me once a year. Roy got a good laugh out of it, but it has continued to haunt me all week.... the fact that my own loving husband or my own precious children could not honestly or truthfully write that about me.

1 Thess 5:16-18 Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.